Hot water batch delivery system for a beverage brewing apparatus

Abstract

A system for automatically delivering one or more precise volumes of hot water to a beverage brewer for brewing a precise amount of a beverage and also permitting variable volumes of hot water, ordinarily in conventional cup sizes, to be manually obtained, is disclosed. The system employs single resistance probe sensor circuit and control circuit in combination with a latch circuit relay to maintain one level of hot water in a heated water tank for manual draw off of variable amounts of hot water from a faucet and for displacing the hot water in the tank from the one level to a second higher level for delivery of a predetermined portion of the displaced volume of hot water to a brewing funnel for brewing a precise volume of hot beverage upon command. A selector switch permits selection of different precise volume of hot water to be delivered to the beverage brewer upon command. A washer containing a threaded collar thereon formed of an electrical insulation material is disposed on the resistance probes of the system to prevent condensate moisture from bridging from the probes to the electrically conductive tank lid to which they are mechanically fastened to cause failure of the probe control circuit.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for manually delivering a selected volume of hot water and a batch of hot water in a predetermined volume from a single holding tank to a beverage dispenser comprising (a) a hot water holding tank, said tank connected a remote source of water;   (b) water tap means communicating with said tank below a first preselected level of water within said tank for manually removing a selected volume of water therefrom, thereby causing said water level to temporarily recede below said first preselected level;   (c) first sensing means for sensing when the level of water in said tank is below said first preselected level;   (d) water level control means connecting said tank to said remote source of water and raising the level in said tank back to said first preselected level in response to said first means sensing water below said first preselected level;   (e) Means for initiating delivery a batch of hot water of a predetermined volume from said tank to said beverage dispenser, said water level control means responsive to said initiating means for connecting said tank to said remote source of water;   (f) second sensing means for sensing when said water in said tank reaches a second predetermined level above said first level, said water level control means disconnecting said tank from said remote source of water in response to said second sensing means sensing water at said second level; and   (g) means for connecting said tank to said beverage dispenser when reaches said second predetermined level and maintaining the connection until the water reaches an intermediate level between said first and second levels thereby delivering said batch of hot water from said tank to said beverage dispenser.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 including time delay control means for disconnecting said tank from the remote source of water after a predetermined time period. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 in which said water level control means comprises a selectably operable valve element positioned in a water supply line communicating with said tank and the remote water source, said selectably operable valve element being normally in a closed state. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 3 in which said water level control means includes a second valve element positioned in a water removal line from said tank to said beverage basket, said second valve element being in a closed state in response to said selectably operable valve being in an open state and being biased into an open state when said second valve means is in a closed state. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4 in which said second valve element is responsive to an increase in pressure in said water supply line for changing to the closed state thereby closing said water removal line. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5 in which said water removing line communicates with said tank at about the level of said intermediate level. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 1 in which said first sensing means being a conducting probe having a tip extending below said intermediate level. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 in which said first sensing means is part of an electric circuit and is removed from said circuit by said water level control means when raising the water level to said second preselected level. 
     
     
       9. A system for providing precise volume of water from a holding tank to a beverage dispenser comprising (a) a hot water holding tank;   (b) a water supply line connecting a remote source of water to said tank;   (c) a solenoid operated supply valve in said supply line biased to a closed position when de-energized;   (d) a water flow restrictor to increase the pressure in the supply line when water is flowing between the remote source of water and said tank, said restrictor positioned in said supply line between said tank and said supply valve;   (e) a water removal line connecting said tank to said beverage dispenser and means for moving a volume of water from said tank through said water removal line to said beverage dispenser, said water moving means connected to said tank at an intermediate position;   (f) a pressure sensitive valve in said water removal line and connected to said supply line between said supply line valve and said flow restrictor, said valve being closed when water is being supplied to said tank in response to water pressure in said supply line;   (g) a first sensing probe extending downwardly into said tank and terminating at a lower level beneath said intermediate level;   (h) at least one second sensing probe extending downwardly into said tank and terminating at a level above said intermediate level;   (i) water tap means connected to said tank at a position below said first sensing probe for removing water from said tank; and   (j) water level control means for generating a signal to energize said solenoid supply valve open when the water level falls below said lower level and out of contact with said first sensing probe due to removal of water from said tank by said water tap means thereby permitting water to flow through said solenoid valve into said tank from said remote water source, said water level control means generating said signal until the water returns to said lower level and contacts said first sensing probe.   
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9 including means for initiating the removal of water from said tank to said beverage dispenser, said control means including a control circuit and a latching relay comprising a relay coil and multiple throw switch means responsive to said relay coil when energized for electrically isolating said first sensing probe. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 10 in which said initiating means is a manually operated push button switch connecting a source of electrical power to said relay means along a first electric circuit path when depressed thereby energizing said relay means. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11 in which said multiple throw latch in response to said relay means when energized connects said relay means to a source of electrical power along a second electric circuit path thereby bypassing said push button switch. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12 including a plurality of second sensing probes of different lengths extending into said tank and selecting means for placing one of said second sensing probes into electrical communication with said water level control means.